Southland cycling has bright future

The future of track cycling in Southland looks bright.

Promising Southland representatives Bradly Knipe, Tom Sexton, Emma Cumming, Ellesse Andrews and Nicole Shields had a hand in seven of New Zealand’s nine medals at the recently completed Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Switzerland.

The province’s riders finished the event with four rainbow jerseys for winning titles, with Cumming and Andrews claiming the women’s team sprint, while Sexton was part of the world record breaking team pursuit and Knipe was victorious in the sprint.

Knipe and Sexton returned home yesterday, when they were greeted by supporters at the Invercargill Airport.

Both teenagers were surprised by the reception they received.

‘‘It is good to see everyone coming out and supporting us; I guess it is a big deal but we are trying to play it down a little bit,’’ Sexton said.

‘‘I expected a couple of people, but not that, it was pretty nuts,’’ Knipe said.

The highlight for Sexton who attends James Hargest College, was being part of the New Zealand team pursuit combin- ation to win in a world record time.

‘‘The boys pulling off a great ride, that was pretty good,’’ he said.

‘‘We didn’t have too many expectations going in, just the rough time we wanted to hit, we really hit that time and surpassed it when getting the world record, it is something we didn’t really think would happen.’’

‘‘I think it was relief more than anything, three good rides and five weeks of training all paid off.’’

He also claimed the silver medal with Palmerston North’s Campbell Stewart in the madison.

Winning a gold and silver medal at the junior world championships was still sinking in for Knipe, who became the first Southland rider ever to win an individual event at the championships.

‘‘I just can’t believe that I am a world champion, with all the effort I put in, especially in the last ride I was struggling to stay upright, it’s unreal’’ he said.

The Southland quintet have benefited from learning their craft at the SIT Velodrome which was built 10 years ago in Invercargill.

The success looks likely to continue with the velodrome set to become a key component of the regional cycling development hub as a pathway for future stars from the southern region.